Carlton is a census-designated place in Hamilton County in Central Texas, United States. It lies in the northeastern part of the county and has an estimated population of 70. Carlton was founded in 1877 by a man named H.H. Armstrong on land owned by two local settlers; rancher J. M. Evans and Dr. F. M. Carlton, the town's namesake. With growth stimulated …Carlton is a census-designated place in Hamilton County in Central Texas, United States. It lies in the northeastern part of the county and has an estimated population of 70. Carlton was founded in 1877 by a man named H.H. Armstrong on land owned by two local settlers; rancher J. M. Evans and Dr. F. M. Carlton, the town's namesake. With growth stimulated by its location on the major area stagecoach line, Carlton prospered through the late 1870s and by 1878 possessed its own school and several churches. In 1879, the post office at nearby Honey Creek was moved to Carlton and renamed for its new location. In 1900, the community had a reported population of just over 160 and several businesses, including a large cotton gin. The Stephenville North and South Texas Railway, part of the historic Cotton Belt Route, was built through Carlton in 1907 on its way from nearby Alexander to Hamilton. Carlton reached its peak population of 750 residents by 1910. During this time, two small weekly newspapers had served the area; the Courier, which ran from 1907 to 1909, and the Citizen, which ran 1910-1936.